Do you have family members with breast cancer? Then you’ve likely wondered about the breast cancer gene. Most cases don’t come from a gene. About 5 to 10 percent do. Still, one harmful change raises your risk a lot.
A BRCA carrier faces a lifetime risk of more than 60 percent. The average woman faces about 13 percent. Your family tree holds clues. This guide explains the facts in plain words. You’ll learn who needs testing and what results mean. Read on to see which signs matter most.
What Do BRCA1 And BRCA2 Do?
Your body has its own “repair crew” in the form of genes. These genes help to repair damaged cells, essentially acting as a spell check for your DNA. When a gene has a harmful alteration, the cell may not be able to repair it properly, and it may begin to grow uncontrollably.
Doctors refer to these alterations to genes as variants. Some are harmless, and others can increase a person’s risk. The “breast cancer gene” includes two different types of genes. Approximately 1 in every 400 individuals has a harmful BRCA change. In addition, approximately 2 in every 100 individuals of Ashkenazi descent have at least one BRCA change.
Both males and females transmit these genes to their offspring. Although most women who develop breast cancer do not possess a harmful BRCA change, having a family history of breast cancer continues to remain an important factor regardless of whether or not you have a harmful BRCA change.
Family Patterns Worth Telling Your Doctor About
Doctors look for patterns, not one case. One older aunt rarely means a breast cancer gene. Several cases, or early ones, raise concern. Check your family for these five signs. Ten minutes of notes helps your doctor a lot.
- Early Diagnosis: Breast cancer at age 50 or younger raises concern. Doctors count it toward your BRCA cancer risk. Write down each age you know. Two cases before age 50 raise the concern further.
- Ovarian Cancer: Any ovarian cancer in the family counts. It points toward hereditary cancer screening for you. Ovarian cancer links strongly to BRCA1 changes. Ask which relatives had it. Ask your doctor for a referral.
- Male Breast Cancer: A father or brother with breast cancer matters. Men carry these genes too. Men with BRCA2 changes face higher breast cancer odds. Don’t leave them off your list.
- Pancreatic or Prostate Cancer: Aggressive prostate cancer or pancreatic cancer also counts. Both link to BRCA changes. Mention them early. Tell your doctor even when a relative passed long ago.
- Known Family Change: A relative with a known change makes testing simple. Ask her for the lab report. Learn the BRCA negative meaning before you read it. Her result tells you exactly what to test for.
How The Gene Passes From Parent To Child
Genes follow simple rules. Learn them once, and your family list gets easier. You get one copy from each parent. A carrier passes a harmful copy about half the time. Myths confuse many families. Each answer below is short and direct.
Does The BRCA Gene Skip Generations?
No. The gene never skips. Each child has a 50 percent chance of inheriting it. It only looks like a skip. A carrier father often shows no cancer. Small families hide the pattern too. Ask relatives about cancer in their own lines.
Does Dad’s Side Count?
Yes. Fathers pass these genes as often as mothers do. Sons and daughters both inherit them. Many families only track the mother’s side. A father with BRCA2 passes it on half the time. Check both sides when you list cancers.
If Mom Is BRCA Negative, Am I?
Not always. Ask what her test looked for. A true negative means she lacks her family’s known change. Then you didn’t inherit it from her. Ask her counselor for a copy of the report. Your dad’s side still counts.
Tools Doctors Use To Measure Your Risk
A gene test isn’t the only tool. Doctors also use a score built from your history. Each tool answers a different breast cancer gene question. Neither one gives a final answer alone. Both help you pick a screening plan.
- Tyrer-Cuzick Model: Some call it the IBIS tool. The Tyrer-Cuzick risk assessment scores your lifetime risk. It weighs age, weight, hormones, density, and family history. Jack Cuzick helped build it. Doctors enter your details into an online calculator.
- Score Meaning: A score of 20 percent or more means high risk. Scores of 15 to 19 sit in the middle. Under 15 counts as average. High risk often adds a yearly MRI.
- Accuracy: No score is perfect. The model beats older tools for strong family histories. It fits Asian and Black women less well. Ask your doctor which score fits you best.
- Gene Panel: A breast cancer genetic testing panel checks many genes. It uses blood or saliva. Results take a few weeks. Insurance often covers it with the right family history.
- Genetic Counseling: Genetic counseling for BRCA1 and BRCA2 comes before the test. A counselor explains results in plain words. Search a BRCA test near me to find clinics. Counselors also help you tell relatives.
What Your Gene Test Result Means
Three types of results may be obtained from testing. Each will affect your plan in a different manner. Do not become overly concerned about any of these. Obtain written copies of all test results and retain a copy. Your physician will discuss each set of results with you. A result indicating the presence of a breast cancer gene provides information regarding risk of developing breast cancer, rather than a diagnosis.
A Positive Result
This means that you may be at higher risk for developing breast cancer. It does not mean you are going to develop breast cancer. However, doctors usually suggest that women with this genetic change get annual MRIs in addition to their regular mammogram. Other women may decide to undergo surgery in order to decrease their chances of developing breast cancer. Most people who carry this genetic change will feel much better when they know what they can do to help prevent themselves from developing breast cancer.
A Negative Result
The meaning depends on your family. A true negative means you lack the family change. Your risk returns to average. An uninformative negative adds little. Average risk still means regular mammograms. Write the result in your health file. Your family history still guides your care.
An Unclear Result
Labs sometimes find a change they cannot classify. They call it a variant of uncertain significance. Most turn out harmless. Until then, your doctor follows your family history. Ask the lab to update you if it changes. Don’t make surgery choices from this result.
Other Genes Worth Knowing About
BRCA isn’t the only gene. PALB2, CHEK2, and ATM also raise breast cancer risk. PMS2 links mostly to colon and uterine cancer. Studies haven’t shown a strong breast link. Many labs now test beyond the breast cancer gene. They test a full panel. A panel checks many genes at once. Ask your counselor which genes it covers. Most women with breast cancer carry no known gene change.
How Eaessi Can Help
EAESSI covers mammograms for uninsured women ages 39 to 64. You must live or work in Northern Virginia. Income limits apply. Worried about a breast cancer gene? Start with screening. Our team checks your eligibility. We help with the paperwork too. Then we book you at a partner site near you. Our grants stay private and judgment-free. Read how a mammogram without insurance works. We also offer free diagnostic testing after odd results. Learn the early warning signs to watch for. Early screening finds cancer when treatment works best. Bring your family cancer list to your doctor. Donations fund every screening, and they’re tax-deductible. Visit our Free Mammograms page for details. Call us at (706) 294-9100 or apply online.
Conclusion
Your family’s history can tell a story about your risk for developing cancer. The presence of a breast cancer gene is only one part of that story. Write down all of the cancers that have been diagnosed among members of your family (both sides). Then, ask each member of your family the same question: “Who had cancer and when?” Give this list to your physician. Bring this document with you during your next appointment. Most women do not have a harmful genetic alteration. However, unless you ask, you will not find out. If finances prevent you from obtaining screenings, then let EAESSI pay for them. Which member of your family will you contact first?
FAQs
What Does The BRCA Gene Do?
BRCA1 and BRCA2 repair damaged cells. A harmful change raises breast cancer risk above 60 percent. About 1 in 400 people carries one. Both men and women inherit these genes.
Is It True The BRCA Gene Skips Generations?
No. Each child has a 50 percent chance of inheriting it. Carriers sometimes stay healthy, so it looks like a skip. Check both sides of your family.
How Do I Get Tested For The BRCA Gene?
Ask your doctor for a genetic counseling referral. The counselor orders a blood or saliva test. Bring your family cancer list to the visit.
What Is The Tyrer-Cuzick Risk Assessment?
It’s a score of your lifetime breast cancer risk. It uses age, family history, breast density, and more. A score of 20 percent means high risk. Doctors also call it the IBIS model.
Does A Negative BRCA Result Mean I’m Safe?
Not always. A true negative returns you to average risk. An uninformative negative adds little, so keep screening. Ask your counselor which kind you have.